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In this issue of the Improvement Service eNewsletter, environmental issues are at the fore as we highlight the councils who have been chosen for the Local Footprints project and the Sustainable Scotland Network calls for ideas on climate change. We also feature our new research on councillors' attitudes and experiences, and there's news of customer service improvements in West Dunbartonshire. Plus there are the usual events and recent publications.
NEWS
Have your say on climate change
A Sustainable Scotland Network/Improvement Service forum is looking for thoughts and opinions to help develop ideas on Scotland's Climate Change Bill.
West Dunbartonshire opens new contact centre
West Dunbartonshire Council and Graham Technology team up to centralise all customer interactions.
Learning from councillors' experiences
Research highlights attitudes and experiences of councillors who stood down in 2007.
Shared Services diagnostic funding released
£4.5million committed in 2007/08 to roll out outputs from the Glasgow and Edinburgh Pathfinder projects to as many councils as possible.
How do councillors improve health and well-being?
NHS Health Scotland launches health and well-being guide for councillors, highlighting their role in health improvement
Scottish councils commit to a greener future
Seven local authorities selected for Local Footprints Project.
EVENTS
Transforming government in Scotland: Working together for a better Scotland - 28-29 November 2007, Edinburgh
This event explores the key priorities for continuous improvement in coming years. Are we keeping up with the global pace of change? Are we innovating enough and providing support for those on the frontline? Are we staying true to what the stakeholders really want? Above all, will these changes be of any real benefit to the citizen?
Day One is a debate and discussion on the strategic context of change for those who are driving the agenda forward. It aims to discuss the key drivers and is for senior-level attendees to examine the goals, partnerships, governance and support necessary to achieve transformation.
Day Two will be an interactive discussion, offering practical examples of how business transformation can be achieved in the public and private sector. It is an opportunity to examine innovative case studies from across Scotland and the rest of Europe and hear from those who have already implemented and adapted to change.
Group, Communities and Facilitators' Workshop - 28 November 2007, Stirling
The IS is running the first of a series of workshops designed to provide participants with a wide variety of skills and expertise that can improve the effectiveness of cross-organisational and interdisciplinary groups.
The day's sessions will provide participants with practical techniques to:
- quickly assess and understand how you and your colleagues can maximise sharing what you know; this skill will help you to efficiently access expertise, information and skills
- elicit expectations and concerns; this skill will help you to ensure that not only are goals realistic and practical and that they have buy-in from those expected to deliver them, but that they are also what is expected from the wider stakeholder group
- facilitate exchange of experience with your colleagues, captured in a useful and actionable format; this skill will help you and your colleagues become more effective in devising creative solutions to problems
In addition to workshops for these skills, we will have two case studies illustrating how other public sector groups have approached the issues surrounding the creation and engagement of communities of practice.
LATEST PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
Elected Members Caseload Management Pilot: Learning from the Pilot
Improving Health and Wellbeing developing an integrated approach through community planning
National Gazetteer October Update
A-Z handbook
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ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT SERVICE
The Improvement Service is devoted to improving the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland through learning, sharing knowledge and delivering improvement solutions. It is a partnership between the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).
WANT TO APPEAR IN THIS NEWSLETTER?
We are always looking for examples of good practice and innovation within Scottish local government and its partners. If you would like to see your work highlighted by the Improvement Service, please contact listen@improvementservice.org.uk
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